Page 3 | Swimming lane etiquette

Flowersandforests · 2024-04-23T16:22:29+00:00

hi everyone - I’m recovering from a back injury & have started going swimming. At my gym you have to book a lane depending on your speed. I was swimming today (backstroke) and could see a woman a few strokes behind me who was trying to overtake. She wasn’t swimming faster than me & I didn’t slow my speed so she just sort of stayed behind me but in the middle of the lane (if that makes sense). This went on for a few lengths until she cut across me at the end of the lane - then she massively slowed down and i got stuck behind her while she caught her breath and doggy paddled. In the end, i waited at the end of the lane so she was far enough ahead of me that her speed didn’t interfere with my swimming but it really threw my concentration !! I saw her do it to a few other people too…. Is this normal?! There was another guy who was super quick so he was easily overtaking people but it didn’t interfere with anyone else’s swimming as he was so fast. So should you slow down if someone wants to overtake even if you are swimming at the same speed?!

LizzieSiddal · 28/04/2024 15:58

BIWI · 28/04/2024 15:35

I've never heard of the foot tapping 'rule' - and there's certainly nothing about that displayed in the pool at my gym.

I’d be horrified if someone tapped me on the foot! I’ve been swimming regularly for years and have never once come across it.

DeclineandFall · 28/04/2024 15:59

The whole point of sharing lanes is to actual share. Not just swim how you like and fuck everyone else. It's annoying to share but it requires everyone to be reasonable even the people who think they are the best swimmers ever. That means everyone to be mindful of everyone else and occasionally modify how they swim. There are plenty who just swim how the fuck they like- I often think if they are as anti social as possible people will just give up and move lanes.

hourstokill · 28/04/2024 16:04

why did you let it go on for 3 lengths... back stroke is massively annoying, its ok if you have some speed about you, but from what i read you're not at olympic level just yet?

if it had been me and all i could do was backstroke, i'd have given way too her as soon as it became an issue and i'd have given her half a pool lengths head start before i started again.

sadly, in public swimming pools, not everyone knows there is a lane etiquette!

FinallySpringSprung · 28/04/2024 16:06

Oooh, I’m glad as wanted to vent about this but didn’t feel worth starting a thread. Pool split into 3 lanes and then a free swim area. Chap in fast lane, me in slow lane, no one in middle lane. Bloke came and got in the slow lane with me. Why on earth didn’t he go in the empty lane, and would he have done that if I was a man?! I was so pissed off and wanted to say something but just got out. Wanker.

hourstokill · 28/04/2024 16:06

totally unrelated and i apologise... what really gets my goat when swimming is when you are legit good enough for the fast lane, and you get the middle aged woman who feels entitled enough to bumble along with a full face of make up and her hair up and making sure she doesn't get wet.. in the fast lane because there are less people in it!

i admit to purposefully making as much splash as possible as i pass her!

sorry.. not sorry

hourstokill · 28/04/2024 16:07

FinallySpringSprung · 28/04/2024 16:06

Oooh, I’m glad as wanted to vent about this but didn’t feel worth starting a thread. Pool split into 3 lanes and then a free swim area. Chap in fast lane, me in slow lane, no one in middle lane. Bloke came and got in the slow lane with me. Why on earth didn’t he go in the empty lane, and would he have done that if I was a man?! I was so pissed off and wanted to say something but just got out. Wanker.

because he knew he was not fast enough for the 'medium' lane and he left it just incase someone did come that did fit the 'medium'speed.

ofcourse it had nothing to do with you being female!!! good lord really??

its not just YOUR pool or YOUR lane

NeverDropYourMooncup · 28/04/2024 16:20

LK2610 · 23/04/2024 19:16

Proper etiquette is for the slower swimmer to stop at the end of the lane so that the other person can take over. It’s super annoying when folks don’t stop and remain oblivious, so you’re stuck behind them. But that relies on being honest about your pace which it doesn’t sound like she was. I find men usually overestimate and make a thing of being faster than women which is stupid. They wouldn’t act like that if you were out for a run. It’s also in the rules that you can gently tap on someone’s toes if they haven’t noticed you but let me tell you, people don’t like that 😂 again men also take this too far and I’ve had guys scratch my feet and yank at them. I wish this was an over exaggerated but it’s not.

Edited

Yeah, rules that say randoms can start touching me can get right in the fucking bin.

Must be a dream come true for fetishists, that.

EBearhug · 28/04/2024 16:24

i admit to purposefully making as much splash as possible as i pass her!

Not just you... there's a double slow lane for a reason at ours.

EBearhug · 28/04/2024 16:27

When I was in Melbourne a couple of years back, the public pool there marked the lanes slow, medium and fast - but also gave an idea of how many seconds you should be able to for a length in for that lane. I thought that was quite helpful (in a, "gosh, I'm really not that fit," sort of way...)

Butternutsqoosh · 28/04/2024 16:37

I'm sure Fearne Cotton told a story once where she got stuck behind an elderly gentleman and decided to swim underneath him to overtake! Oh god I laughed at it, it didn't end well, I'm sure she ended up coming up for air under his tummy 😂😂

FinallySpringSprung · 28/04/2024 16:38

hourstokill · 28/04/2024 16:07

because he knew he was not fast enough for the 'medium' lane and he left it just incase someone did come that did fit the 'medium'speed.

ofcourse it had nothing to do with you being female!!! good lord really??

its not just YOUR pool or YOUR lane

Edited

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obviously , but surely you just go in the empty lane when it’s quiet ? Or, you just have a quick chat on the way in , with a smile and a , “not sure I’m fast enough for the middle lane “, rather than making it be about having to avoid each other on each lap ?!

BIWI · 28/04/2024 16:39

If the fast lane is empty, and there's already someone in the slow lane, then I'll swim in the fast lane, until someone fast/faster comes along, and then I'll move. Seems daft for two people to occupy one lane when the other one is empty!

aodirjjd · 28/04/2024 16:40

FinallySpringSprung · 28/04/2024 16:06

Oooh, I’m glad as wanted to vent about this but didn’t feel worth starting a thread. Pool split into 3 lanes and then a free swim area. Chap in fast lane, me in slow lane, no one in middle lane. Bloke came and got in the slow lane with me. Why on earth didn’t he go in the empty lane, and would he have done that if I was a man?! I was so pissed off and wanted to say something but just got out. Wanker.

This is really weird, why wouldn’t you just move into medium lane yourself rather than get out?

Meredusoleil · 28/04/2024 16:45

aodirjjd · 28/04/2024 16:40

This is really weird, why wouldn’t you just move into medium lane yourself rather than get out?

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Exactly what I wanted to say!

LK2610 · 28/04/2024 16:48

NeverDropYourMooncup · 28/04/2024 16:20

Yeah, rules that say randoms can start touching me can get right in the fucking bin.

Must be a dream come true for fetishists, that.

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😂😂😂

Runningbird43 · 28/04/2024 16:59

I was a competitive swimmer for years. Twice a day before and after school. Foot tapping was never a thing.

it’s a relatively recent “rule” if it is. I haven’t been swimming for a few years. Last time I went to an adults session there was a male in his 20’s who should have been in the fast lane tapping away at everyone’s feet. Put me right off.

it’s always men that do it. It’s not “etiquette” it’s fucking rude and risks a broken nose.

readingmakesmehappy · 28/04/2024 17:09

idontlikealdi · 23/04/2024 17:43

Tap on the foot to signal you are overtaking. Booking lanes based on speed is bonkers though. You should be able to change lanes on actual speed of the swimmers.

I loathe unexpected physical contact and being tapped on the foot unsettles me for the rest of the swim. I hate hate hate it. Fine for club sessions but not for general swimming as this isn't a widely known thing.

FinallySpringSprung · 28/04/2024 17:17

Meredusoleil · 28/04/2024 16:45

Exactly what I wanted to say!

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decision was along lines of: things come in 3 - I’ve got a sore muscle, I’ve achieved today’s goal, and now there’s someone else in this lane …

I find being in a lane with someone else harder than being in my own : am I in a straight line, am I going to be in their way when we pass, am I holding them up. So I would always go in an empty lane rather than joining someone else. Just assumed that’s what most people would do !

Im having lessons, I’m improving , and learning the etiquette as I go. But it’s a hard skill if you didn’t learn as a child. I’m in awe of those who bosh up and down the lanes , I’d love to be able to do that.

MinnieMountain · 28/04/2024 17:37

I’m a medium lane breaststroker. I also overtake as there’s a variety of speeds that count as medium. Nobody seems to have a problem with that.

I think the key to not annoying others is to be aware of your speed relative to theirs and stop at the end to let people overtake you.

Runningbird43 · 28/04/2024 17:48

I am also very suprised that toe tapping is now “written” as a rule.

i am not a lawyer or legal expert but I do have years of safeguarding training around sports coaching. Central is you never intentionally touch another person without consent. Repeatedly touching someone without consent is harassment.

i’d be writing to any pool with toe tapping as a rule and pointing this out.

it’s not great it is? If someone’s in your way touch them underwater, and keep doing it until they move? You can’t even say “it’s only feet”, as that just makes it sound like a foot fetish.

Love51 · 28/04/2024 18:20

EBearhug · 27/04/2024 22:13

I dunno if there is such a thing as swimming lane etiquette.

There is.

In our pool, they used to have a print out stuck to the back of the slow, medium, fast lane signs. Not sure if they still do. There have been one or two swimmers who should have been made to go and read it, but most are pretty good.

There were a couple of aggressively fast swimmers not long after covid who were told by the lifeguards to be more considerate to other users or to get out.

I find written instructions useful as etiquette varies. The two pools I use most regularly are part of the same chain but one has wide lanes with room for overtaking and the other has mostly narrow lanes (but the slow lane is half the pool). I haven't been anywhere where it says you can touch the other swimmers though and I wouldn't be keen. There's a reasonably high Muslim population near my main pool which means the tapping their foot thing would be vetoed the moment someone suggested it, which is lucky!

wompwomp · 28/04/2024 18:36

Reachforthestars00 · 23/04/2024 17:31

Good etiquette is for the slower swimmer to stop at the end of their next length and let the faster swimmer pass. If you hadn't done this, she might have thought you rude. Overtaking mid length is also rude, as is pushing off in front of an incoming swimmer (esp when you are slower).

You need to read the post again the woman wasn't faster

hourstokill · 30/04/2024 21:42

FinallySpringSprung · 28/04/2024 16:38

obviously , but surely you just go in the empty lane when it’s quiet ? Or, you just have a quick chat on the way in , with a smile and a , “not sure I’m fast enough for the middle lane “, rather than making it be about having to avoid each other on each lap ?!

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why didnt the OP go in the other lane? I'm assuming this male just got on with his lengths? depending on the size of the pool, you can usually easily fit 7 or 8 people too a lane, so 2 shouldn't really be an issue

LordSnot · 30/04/2024 21:49

LK2610 · 28/04/2024 14:48

The foot tapping is in the pool rules though, it’s literally written on a piece of paper at my local leisure centre but having grown up as a swimmer, it’s a universal sign across all leisure centres. People aren’t doing it to be annoying or gross, they’re just following the rules. It should only be done to people who haven’t realised you’re stuck behind them, and only gently. It’s a polite way of saying, excuse me, please can you let me past at the end of the lane, you don’t seem to have noticed me. It’s much better than swimming over someone and barging past, like a lot of blokes tend to do. I’d prefer someone tapped me once on the foot if they wanted to overtake than aggressively swim past me and push me out of the way.

https://www.speedo.com/blog/advice/the-7-commandments-of-lane-swimming/#:~:text=Foot%20tapping,lane%20to%20let%20you%20pass).

Edited

Rubbish. It isn't a universal rule and you do know there are more options than pushing someone out of the way or hitting their foot?

Stop doing it. It's really rude.

Countrylife2002 · 02/05/2024 08:22

I think I would lose my shit if someone tapped my foot! Once I’d put up with but if it happened again…